Iran frees first of three US hikers on health grounds

Sarah Shourd, one of three American hikers held in Iran as spies for over a year, has been freed from prison.

An Iranian English language channel, Press TV, reported the news yesterday after a deal apparently brokered by the Swiss embassy, which represents US interests in the Iran.

Alex Fattal, whose brother Josh is still being held in Iran, said in a statement: ''She is out. Confirmed.''

Ms Shourd's lawyer, Massoud Shafei, told Reuters: ''I am inside Evin prison, doing her paperwork. She has been released and is heading towards the Swiss embassy.''

A family friend confirmed that the deal was going ahead.

Iran's judiciary announced that the detention of Ms Shourd's two American friends Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal had been extended for two more months.

Ms Shourd, 32, Mr Bauer and Mr Fattal, both 28, were detained by Iranian security forces while hiking near the border with Iraqi Kurdistan in July last year. They have denied accusations of spying and have never been charged with any offence.

Their families say they were hiking in Iraq's scenic north when they were detained, and that if they crossed the border into Iran they did so unwittingly.

Iran had said they could be freed on payment of $US500,000 ($541,000) in bail, though her family said it would have difficulties raising the money, and the US government said it would not pay. Iranian news agencies, quoting the judiciary, reported that bank documents had been submitted to secure Ms Shourd's release and that she had been handed to Swiss officials. The three Americans have been pawns in a tense diplomatic standoff between the US and Iran and have apparently also fallen victim to internal political rivalry in the Islamic Republic.

Iran first announced on Friday that Ms Shourd would be released on Saturday, as a humanitarian gesture to mark Eid al-Fitr, the holiday at the end of Ramadan, but excitement quickly gave way to confusion in the wake of conflicting statements from Tehran.

A Tehran prosecutor, Abbas Ja'fari-Dowlatabadi, said on Sunday that Ms Shourd would be freed on health grounds.

The fate of Mr Bauer and Mr Fattal remains unclear.

Bloomberg reports: An Iranian diplomat has sought asylum in Norway after resigning his post at the Iranian embassy in Brussels.

Guardian News & Media